if republicans don't relent on his issue, other fiscal cliff matters won't be discussed in the president's campaign to end the stalemate will continue. -election pond time since winning re-election, president obama welcomed the applause of hand-picked supporters and wa his calls tolicans not to ignore is calls to protect middle class households. >> it's time for us to work on >> reportel agreed to, which is allow eep middle class tax cuts for >> tax cuts for households that earn more than $250,000 to in a expire. increase.complicity and tax rate theyease. sted.hey're not interested. >> you're not going to grow the ou raiseif you raise tax rates on the top two rates. smalll hurt small businesses. econill hurt our economy. approach.y this is not the right r: toach. anythis impasse is one of many geithnerreasury secretary tim geithner, mr. obama's lead with t negotiator, will have meetings e bowlesth top congressional thisrs. othpson bowles met with all the ue.yers at both ends of 'mnnsylvania avenue. >> i'm not more optimistic or less optimistic. puthopeful but don't put me e nearnywhere nea